Posts tagged with "ashes" - Faerye Net

Calyx reading a success

2009-09-20T13:24:56+00:00

I’ve been putting off this post ‘til I could include some photos, but I’ll just update it later on.

As previously mentioned, last week there was a group reading of contributors to CALYX 25:2. This was, I must confess, terribly exciting for me. I have had some previous reading experience: student readings at MFA residencies, the formal graduation reading, and one I ended up doing at Radcon at the instigation of one Jeannine. Those events were fun and extremely educational, but there’s something about reading your own work in a bookstore. It’s the sort of mark of progress that a person should record on her Fame-o-Meter (note to self: update Fame-o-Meter). A reading I was invited to do, where people could, if they wanted, buy work I hadn’t published myself.

The reading went swimmingly. We had three poets, including Helen Gerhardt Pucilowski, who’s about to graduate from the Pacific MFA program.The other prose writer was the inimitable Leslie What, who I first met in that program. Lovely words and moving readings. A lot of people came, some of whom I knew from Pacific, the Portland writing crowd, or the neighborhood. The staff at Annie Bloom’s (my neighborhood bookstore) had to try to find more chairs! Splendid to have so many people there, and so much support.

I really enjoy reading my work. There are some nerves, of course, but I rather enjoy those too. You’re not simply anxious because you’re performing or speaking publicly; you’re tense because there’s no more direct way to put your words before your readers. Short of forcing someone to read your story while you peer into their face from two feet away, you’re never going to get a simpler test of audience reaction (and I think the peering test might produce skewed results). They laugh or they don’t. They meet your eye when you look around or they don’t. I have long thought reading aloud a great way to find the weaknesses in one’s writing, and I read all my stories aloud at least once before they go out to an editor. But this doesn’t just force you to hear your own words, it allows you to see them work (or not) on others. Writing goes from the solitary art to the primal, communal play of storytelling. I loved trying out my story on the audience at Annie Bloom’s Books on Wednesday, and I hope it was only the first of many such auditions.

Thank you to everyone that came. If another reading is arranged, you’ll hear it here first!

Calyx 25:2 available for online order

2009-08-06T17:50:17+00:00

I’ve updated the main post below, but I thought it was worth a tiny post of its own: The Summer 2009 issue of CALYX: A Journal of Art and Literature by Women is now available for purchase on Calyx Press’s website using PayPal. If you can’t locate it at your friendly neighborhood independent bookstore, you can get it directly from your friendly Corvallis feminist press.

Calyx 25:2 on shelves!

2009-07-28T17:19:14+00:00

What what? The Summer 2009 issue of CALYX: A Journal of Art and Literature by Women is available! This issue contains my first published realism, a short story called “Ashes.”

How do I get it? CALYX is a well-distributed literary magazine, available at many independent and feminist bookstores. I’m told that city newsstands often carry it, and some B&N and Borders locations. Call ahead! (And leave a comment when you see it somewhere!) In Portland I have seen it on the shelves of Powell’s City of Books although neither their website nor their phone operators can confirm its presence. Annie Bloom’s Books, which is also hosting the reading in September, carries it.

I’m looking into whether you can buy it directly from Calyx Press, which might be a good online or order-by-phone option.

What am I looking for?

What am I getting? CALYX is a $10 semi-annual journal. This is Volume 25, number 2, the 33rd Anniversary Issue. It has a full-color insert of art from six artists working in various media, and over 100 pages of poetry, nonfiction, fiction and book reviews. This particular issue happens to contain the work of four current or past students of the Pacific University MFA in Writing program: poetry by Helen Pucilowski and Abby Murray, and nonfiction by Leslie What. Calyx comes recommended by lights like Ursula Le Guin and Barbara Kingsolver. How’s that for friends in high places?

Why am I running out madly to buy this? It’s true, I’m not the boss of you. However, my story contains 80’s-tacular touches such as wooly tights and a Gremlins lunchbox. And at least one of my friends says that while the story is realistic, it’s still a little weird. My sister says she enjoyed CALYX so much she thinks she’ll subscribe. With those recommendations, why wouldn’t you?

Update, 8/6/09: The Summer issue is now available for purchase on Calyx Press’s website!

Calyx reading in September

2009-07-16T13:05:24+00:00

The semi-annual issue of CALYX: A Journal of Art and Literature by Women should be out later this week. As I may have mentioned, my realistic story “Ashes” will be published there.

Luckily for me, a large number of contributors to this issue are Portlanders, so CALYX arranged a reading at our very own Annie Bloom’s Books (if I can walk there from my house, it’s my very own). Five authors will be reading: I believe the ratio is two prose to three poetry. Two of the authors (plus me!) are graduates from or students in my MFA program, which is pretty nifty.

So, here’s all the info in case you want to write it a couple of months out on your calendar:
What: Calyx Summer 2009 Reading
When: Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 7:30 pm
Where: Annie Bloom’s Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland OR (Multnomah Village)
Who: Felicity Shoulders, Leslie What, Helen Puciloski, Lois Rosen, Mary Calvin

This just in!

2008-08-02T23:33:33+00:00

Another story of mine has been accepted for publication! Full details over on the author site, but in general: it’ll be out next year, it’s a realistic short story called “Ashes”, and it’s in a well-respected literary journal published in my own home state of Oregon.

I feel like dancing, but in these shoes I would scare the cat half to death; I’ve already charged around in a state of giddiness until she looked feral and harried. I’ll settle for an imaginary jig.